Collapsible tube holder



March 5, 1946. LAHTINEN 2,396,016

COLLAPSIBL'E TUBE HOLDER" Filed April 24, 1943,

v lllllll-g 411/1. '1 l l I III 71/! film-N701? Ee/vEsTLLA W/vE/v iifss Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

'CQLLAPSIBI E IrUB-E HOLDER Ernest-L. ianunen, Minneapolis, "Minn. Application non! V24, 1943, sensuous-4,386

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful immovements in holders for collapsible tubes such as are commonly used for tooth paste, shaving cream, and analogous materials.

Numerous attempts have heretofore been made to develop a device lor supporting collapsible tubes of tooth paste and shaving cream, to render said tubes more convenient for daily use, and to eliminate the operation of unscrewing the'usual closure cap from the tube and. subsequently replacing it thereon. Sud-ha device to be practical, must be so constructed as to be capable of supporting the tube in a conveniently accessible manner with the usual closure cap removed therefrom and with the assurance that when "the open tube is supported thereby, its open end or mouth will be sealed to the atmosphere and against on foreign matter wlfich'm-ig'ht contaminate the contents of the tube, when the closure cap is not replaced upon the tube neck. v I V Devices heretofore devised forholding co1lapsi.. ble tubes with their usual closure caps removed therefrom have not beenfentirely satisfactory; first, because they have not been very sanitary";

secondly, because they have not rovided a substantially air-tight closure for the openmouth of the tube when the tube is not in use; and third- 1y, because in many ease's the effort required in their operation was as great as tnat required-for removing and replacing the cap on the. tube.

The novel invention herein disclosed, contemplates the provision cl a collapsible ftube holder which is so constructed that it presents the utmost'ln sanitation; provides a substantially airtigh t closure {or the mouth of the tube, when the latter is sup orted in the holder; and provides maximum utility since less time and efiort required on the part of the user to withdraw the tube from. the holder and subsequently replacing it therein, than now'required to remove a con: ventional closurecap from the tube and later replacing the cap on the tube, whereby the iuseof this hovel-device will tend to stimulate the daily use of toothpaste; t g

nn'nnportant feature-of the invention therefore is to provide a holder of the class described hav me means for frlc'tionally receiving the upper end of a eollapsmleftube body with the usual closure cap removed therefrom, and whereby the open mouth of the tube is closed to the atinos-phereand the contents in the neck or the tube are not like- 1y tobecome dry and unusable, and also whereby the tube may be convenientlyremoved from the holder, as when a portion of the contents theme; is to be elected Item the tube, and also wherebythe top end of the tube may be quickly and conveniently inserted into the holder to seal the open top thereof when the tubeiis not use;

vAfurther object is to provide "a collapsible tube holder having an inwardly turned annular fian-ge defining an -'openi=n'g adapted to receive "the upper portion of the tube body in such a mannerthat said flange will frictionally engage the upper portion of the tube in substantially leak-tight relation, and a second sealing element being provided within the holder adapted to engage the usual upper conical wall of the tube body to further seal mouth of the tube, and said s'eeondsealingelement in addition to sealing thetube mouth, also provides a limit stop for the upward movementof the tube, when inserted into the holder, therebyto prevent the upper end of the threaded neck of the tube from engaging the upper wall of the holder and causing some of the contents of the tube to adhere thereto.

f A further object is to provide a holder of the class described which readily lends itself to manufacture in quantity production from such materials as plastics, and various other materials, which "may readily be molded into the desired shape to provide, in combination, a housing for receiving and enclosing the mouth end of the tube, and a bracket whereby the holder may be conveniently mounted upon a wall in a bathroom wheresuch tubes are commonly used, and whereby the tube may be supported ata convenient location, ready for immediate usep I e A further object is to provide a holder for collapsible tubes, comprising a bracket adapted for wall mounting and having a housing supported thereon provided withan open bottom,and-a flexible insert being fitted into said housing and ,provided'w'ith an inwardly turned flexible flange defining an opening adapted to receive the discharge "end of the tube 'bo c'l;y, and said insert having a cylindrical flange depending from its upper wall whose lower edge is adapted to engage the upper conical wall of'the collapsible tube body, thereby to cooperate with said inwardly turned flange to provide a dual seal for sealing the open mouthof the tube, when the latter is supported in the holder.

A further object is to provide a holder for collapsible tubes, comprising a housing provided with suitable mounting means, and said housing having an annular inwardly turned flange adjacent to its bottom which 'flange defines an opening of slightly less diameter than the diameter, of the tube body, whereby when the end of the tube body is inserted thru said opening, the wall of the opening is slightly expanded to thereby cause the flange to frictionally engage the tube body in leaktight relation and in a manner to removably support the tube from said housing, and an annular seat being provided within the housing in vertioally spaced relation to said flange adapted to be engaged by the upper conical wall of the tube to provide a limit stop for the tube, when inserted into the housing, and which seat also serves to further seal the open end or mouth of the tube.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a holder forcollapsible tubes comprising a housing having an annular seat therein adapted to removably receive and support an annular channel-like member having inwardly directed annular flexible flanges defining openings adapted to receive the body and neck of the tube, respectively, said flanges engaging the tube body with suflicient pressure to seal the mouth of the tube, when the tube is inserted into said housing; in the provision of a device of the class described which may be molded from suitable plastics, and has an annular flexible flange adapted to frictionally engage the tube body to support the tube from said bracket with its open end or mouth enclosed within the housing; in the provision of a tube holder comprising a housing having a flexible cylindrical sealing member mounted therein adapted to engage the upper conical wall of the tube, and a second flexible element of relatively larger diameter having an inwardly directed annular flange defining a restricted opening thru which'the end of the tube body may be inserted by slightly deflecting the marginal edge of said flange, whereby the latter will support the tube in the housing in substantially leak-tight relation; and in a device of the class described which is very simple and inexpensive in construction, is very neat and attractive in appearance, and is provided with means for mounting it upon the wall of a bathroom, or some other fixed support suitable for the purpose. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing, and will be pointed out in the annexed claims. I

In the accompanying drawing there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the inventionis not-confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

' In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved holder partially in section, showing a collapsible tube suspended therefrom with its open mouth sealed to the atmosphere.

Figure 2 is a sectional View of the flexible insert, removed from the housing;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing an insert having a relatively smaller bottom opening therein adapted to support a tube of smaller diameter;

Figure 5 is a view showing a holder of slightly different construction wherein the resilient insert is provided with inwardly directed spaced parallel flanges;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the tube removed from the holder;

Figure '7 is a view showing a holder in which two sealing elements are provided within the housing for engaging the end of the tube;

Figure 8 is a view showing the sealing elements of Figure '7 removed from the housing; and

Figure 9 is a view showing another modification wherein the housing, including the gripping and sealing members, may be integrally formed of rubber, or some other material applicable for the purpose, and wherein the housing is detachably secured to the mounting flange.

The invention, as illustrated in Figure 1, is shown comprising a dome-shaped housing 2 having an opening 3 at its bottom defined by an inwardly turned flange 4. The housing 2 is preferably formed with a neck 5 to which is secured 2 suitable mounting flange 6 provided with apertures 1, whereby the holder may readily be secured to a wall or other flxed support in the position shown in Figure 1.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the means provided within the housing for supporting a collapsible tube 3 from the holder, and whereby the open end or mouth of the tube is completely enclosed within the housing, thereby to prevent exposure. of the contents to the atmosphere and contamination thereof by foreign matter. The collapsible tube 8, as best shown in Figure 1, comprises the usual cylindrical body 9, and the conical wall I I to which a threaded nipple I2 is secured. Before inserting the tube end into the housing, the usual closure cap or the tube, not shown, is removed from the tube.

In a device of the character herein described, sanitation is of paramount importance, and it is therefore highly desirable that the upper-most end I3 of the tube nipple I2 be so supported Within the housing that it cannot engage the upper wall of the housing, which might cause some of the contents of the tube to adhere thereto.

To thus support the upper or discharge end of the collapsible tube within the housing, the housing 2 is shown provided with an insert I4 which is preferably made of rubber or some other suitable flexible water-proof material. shaped to conform substantially to the interior surface of the wall of the housing, whereby it may 45 be fitted into the housing, a shown in Figure 1,

and is retained therein by the flange or head 4 at the bottom of the housing.

The insert I4 is provided at its bottom with a horizontal inwardly turned annular flange I5 de- 50 fining an opening I6 adapted to receive the body 9 of the tube, as shown in Figure 1. The opening I6, it will be noted by reference to Figures 1 and 2, is relatively smaller in diameter than the diameter of the tube body, whereby when the v tube body is inserted thru said opening, the marginal edge of the flange I5 will flex, as shown at I! in Figure 1, thereby frictionally engaging the body of the tube in such manner as to readily support the upper end of the tube within the housing, and at the same time providing substantially an air-tight seal between the flange I5 and the body of the tube.

To further seal the open end of the collapsible tube and to prevent the end I3 of the nipple from engaging the upper wall portion I8 of the insert,

2. depending cylindrical flange I9 is shown provided on the upper wall portion I8 of the insert.

The flange I9 extends downwardly from the wallv portion I8 and preferably has its lower edge beveled, as indicated at M. The depth of the flange I9 is such that when the end of the tube body is insertedthru the opening IS in the insert, and the conical wallll of the tube engages the beveled edge of the'flange I9, the flange I9 will event the end I3 015, the tube nipple from en- This insert is gaging the upper wall of the. insert,.:as clearly:

flange 19 also cooperates with the horizontal,

flange to seal the open mouth of the tube.

When the tube is removed from the holder, the interior of the housing may readily be thoroughly cleansed, or, if desired,- -the insert HI may be completely removed from the holder to facilitate cleaning and sterilizing, which greatly enhances its usefulness, in that the device may readily and conveniently be maintained in-a-thoroughly sanitary condition at all times. In the *form "of the invention "as shown in Figure 1, insertshaving different size openings f6 thereinmay'be'provided, whereby the holder may be used Torsupporting tubes having different body diameters by simply substituting one insert for another, depending upon the size tube to be supported.

In Figure 4 there is shown an insert 14' having a relatively smaller opening 16" provided at its bottom flange whereby the insert I4" is adapted to support a collapsible tube whose body diameter is relatively smaller than the tube shown in Figure l. The depending cylindrical flange I 9 provided in the insert I4 may also be slightly smaller in diameter to provide a better fit with the conical wall H of the tube. V

In Figure .5 there is shown a holder comprise ing a housing 2], which is quite similar to the housing 2 shown in Figure 1, and which, in like manner, is provided with a neck Shaving a flange 6 adapting the holder for wall mounting. The housing II i shown provided with an annular cylindrical seat 22 into which is removably fitted an insert 23. The insert 23 is provided with inwardly directed annular flanges 24 and 25, vertically spaced apart, as best shown in Figure 6. The lower flange 24 defines an opening 26 for receiving the upper end portion of the cylindrical tube body 9. The, upper flange defines a relatively smaller opening 21 adapted toreceive the nipple I 2 of the collapsible tube 8, and is adapted to engage the upper end wall H of the tube body, as shown.

- The opening 26, like the opening It in the flange i5, is slightly smaller in diameter thanthe diameter of the tube body to be supported, whereby the marginal edge of the flange 24' will flex,

when engaged by the tube body, as shown in Figure 5. The upper flange 25, as previously stated, is adapted to engage the conical wall ll of the tube to limit upward movement of the tube into the housing, and also to provide an additional seal for the mouth of the tube, as will be understood. The insert 23 is preferably made of-rubher or some other suitable flexible water-proof material which may readily be deformed to permit it to be fitted into the housing or to be removed therefrom.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is shown another form in which the housing 28 is of slightly different form. The housing is preferably provided with a mounting flange 6, similar to the one shown in Figures 1 and 5. The housing 28 has an enlarged annular recess 29 adapted to receive a flexible insert 3|, having an inwardly turned horizontal flange 32 whose marginal edge 33 is adapted to frictionally engage the body 9 of a collapsible tube to pendantly support the tube from the housing, and to provide substantially a seal--- tight connection Izbetween the flange 32 and tube body. i

.A small irecess' tl is shown provided in the upper portion of the housing 28, and below the 1 recessthere provided an annular seat 35 adapted to receive a suitable flexible sealing-element '36. The inner lower comer of the sealing element 36 is adapted to engage the conical wall I] of the tube body, as shown in Figure 7, when a tube is inserted into the housing. The inserts 31 and '36 are made of asuit'able flexible waterproof material, preferably rubber, and may readily be removed from the housing 28, as shown in Figure 8.

In Figure 9, there is shown a holder comprising a housing 3-1 which may be-molded or otherwise formed of such material as rubber, having a neck 38 shown provided with an opening or bore 39 adapted to receive a "supporting stem 4| The supporting stem 4 I "may be secured to a "suitable mounting flange d2, adapted to be secured to a wall 501 other support. The "housing is removably fitted onto the supporting stem '41, wherebyit may readily be removed from the mounting flange 42, when desired, to facilitate cleaning and sterilizing or to :substitute holders to accommodate tubes-of various .sizes. The form of housing shown in Figure 9 comprises an annular recess L43 having a central tube-receiving opening in its bottom defined by an annular flexibl flange 44. The marginal edge of the flange 44 is adapted to engage the body 9 of a collapsible tube, as shown, thereby to removably support the tube from the housing.

A relatively smaller recess '45 is formed in the upper portion of the "housing for receiving the nipple 12 of the tube. An annular shoulder 46 is provided between the recesses 43 and 45 adapt ed to engage the conical wall 11 of the tube body, thereby to limit upward movement of the tube and to further seal the open mouth thereof.

The novel holder herein disblosed, may readily be molded from any of the well known plastics or rubber, and provides a very simple and inexpensive device which is neat and attractive in appearance, and'is thoroughly sanitary When mounted upon a wall in a bath room, the holder provides an ideal support for a collapsible tube of tooth paste, shaving cream, or any other material which may be'contained in a collapsible tube, whereby thetu'be may .be readily and conveniently withdrawn from the holder and replaced therein .by the user with a minimum of effort and care.

j One or the important features of the invention as lhere'inbe'fore' stated, 'resides in the fact that the inwardly'turned fiange'ill which engages the body 9-o'fthe tube, is continuou around its entire circumference, whereby when the end o fithe tube body is inserted thru the opening f6 loffthe flange into the housing, the marginal edge or the flange I! will grip the body of the tube with sufiicient pressure to prevent the tube from accidentally becoming detached from the housing,v and at the same time providing an airtight seal between the flange and the tube body. The dual sealing elements provided in each of the various forms of the invention, as herein described, are also important, in that with such an arrangement of dual sealing elements, it is also prevents contamination of the tooth paste from foreign matter. holder is also such as to provide the utmost in sanitation, as willreadily be understood by reference to Figure l.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A holder for supporting a collapsible tube with its closure cap removed from the mouth of the tube, said holder comprising a housing provided with an upper wall and an elastic bottom Wall having a central opening therein adapted to receive one end of the tube, the diameter of said opening being relatively less than the diameter of the tube body, whereby the marginal edge of said elasticwall will frictionally engage the tube body in substantially leak-tight relation and pendantly support the tube from the holder with the open mouth of the tube enclosed within the housing, and means within the housing above said elastic wall adapted to engage the upper portion of the tube to provide an auxiliary closure for the open end or mouth of the tube when supported in said housing.

2. A holder for supporting a collapsible tube with its closure cap removed from the mouth of the tube, said holder comprising a closed housing provided at its bottom with an elastic wall having a central pening therein whose diameter is relatively less than the diameter of the body of the tube to be supported by said holder, whereby when one end of the tube is inserted thru said opening, said elastic wall will frictionally engage the tube body and pendantly support it from said holder with the open mouth of the tube enclosed within the housing, and means within the housing above said flange adapted to be engaged by the upper conical wall of the tube, thereby to limit upward movement of the tube in said housing.

3. A holder for supporting a collapsible tube with its closure cap removed from the mouth of the tube, said holder comprising a housing provided at its bottom with an inwardly turned annular elastic flange adapted to frictionally engage the tube body in substantially leak-tight relation and pendantly support the tube from said holder, and an annular seat spaced upwardly from said flange adapted to be engaged by the The construction of the tents supported in the neck of the tube, and

upper conical wall of the tube body to thereby cooperate with said flange to further seal the open mouthofthe tube.

4. A holder for supporting a collapsible tube with its closure cap removed from the mouth of the tube, said holder comprising a housing having a dome-shaped upper wall and provided at its bottom with an annular continuous flange capable of yielding under pressure, the marginal edge of saidflange defining an opening adapted to receive the discharge end of the tube body, said opening being relatively smaller in diameter than the diameter of the tube body whereby when the discharge end of the tube body is inserted into the housing thru said opening, the marginal edge of said flange will yield or stretch to permit passage of the tube body therethru, and will frictionally engage and support the tube from the holder with the upper end of the tube enclosed within. the housing, said flange engaging the tube body in substantially leak-tight relation, and an annular seat in said housing spaced upwardly from said flange and adapted to be engaged by the usual conical wall at the discharge end of the tube, thereby to further seal the open mouth of the tube, said seat also limiting movementof the tube into the housing to prevent its open end from engaging the upper wall of the housing.

5. In a device of the class described, a domeshaped housing having an imperforate top wall and an open bottom and provided with means for supporting it on a wall or fixed support, a member removably fitted into said housing-and having an inwardly turned continuous elastic flange defining an opening adapted to receive and frictionally support a collapsible tube :body from the housing, a relatively smaller elastic flange disposed within the housing and arranged to be engaged by the upper conical wall of the tube body, thereby to seal the open top of the tube to the atmosphere.

6. In a device of the class described, a housing having an open bottom, an elastic member removably fitted into said housing and having an inwardly turned annular flange defining a central opening in the bottom of the housing adapted to receive the bodyof a collapsible tube, said opening being relatively smaller in diameter thanthe tube body whereby its wall is expanded by the insertion of the tube body therethrough, whereby said expanded wall will frictionally grip the tube body and support it from the housing, a cylindrical flange depending from the upper wall of said member in position to engage the upper conical wall of a tube inserted into said central opening, said cylindrical flange limiting upward movement of the tube body in the housing and cooperating with said inwardly turned flange to provide a dual seal for the upper open end of the tube.

ERNEST L. LAl-ITINEN. 

